5 Tips to keep your Smile Healthy this Christmas

healthy smile this christmasMiami and Coral Gables, FL

Tis the season for holiday parties and gatherings. While these parties mean good times with friends or family, it also usually means lots of sweets! It’s important that you take good care of your teeth, especially when you are consuming more sugar than usual such as during the holidays.

Your Miami area dentists at Miami Designer Smiles have five tips to keep your smile healthy this Christmas:

Limit Sweets

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying some sweets here and there. We certainly wouldn’t ask you to completely skip all the goodies this Christmas. But, just limit your intake of sugary treats, including beverages and cocktails that often are loaded with sugar. Snacking on sweets throughout the day means you are constantly bathing your teeth in sugar, which is a primary building block of tooth decay and gum disease. Instead, enjoy some sweets all at once and be done for the day. Then, you can brush your teeth afterward or at least rinse out your mouth with water to rinse away residual sugar.

Skip the Sticky Foods

Not all sweets are created equal. It’s best to skip the dried fruit, which means you may have to pass up your great aunt’s fruitcake! (See how we got you out of that one?) Gummy candies also are just as bad for your teeth. It’s best to stick with chocolate instead and make it dark chocolate while you’re at it.

Drink Water

It’s certainly tempting to reach for cocktails to sip on during holiday gatherings, but remember these beverages often are loaded with sugar. It’s best to stick to water if at all possible, or at least sip on water while enjoying your beverage of choice. After all, the Christmas holiday comes only once a year! If you must enjoy sugar beverages such as soda or sweet tea, drink it through a straw to keep the sugars away from your teeth.

Chew Gum

It’s a good idea to keep some sugar-free gum with you while you are making your rounds to the holiday parties, especially if you aren’t able to brush after each meal. Sugar-free gum helps remove plaque buildup, as well as food particles that are left behind from snacks and meals. Plus, the minty flavors can freshen your breath.

Brush and Floss

Keep your toothbrush and some floss handy, especially if you’re going to be traveling or away from home for the day. Brushing and flossing at the end of the day remove sugar and plaque buildup from the day’s feasts. Avoid going to bed without brushing and flossing as doing so would increase your risk of tooth decay.

Miami Area Dentists

Miami Designer Smiles wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Remember to take care of your oral health during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. If you would like more information regarding how to protect your teeth or to schedule an appointment, please call Miami Designer Smiles at (305) 595-4616 to schedule a consultation.

Miami Designer Smiles is proud to provide care for patients in the South Florida communities of Miami and Coral Gables.